Members of the Fixers Collective repairing broken stuff in NYC (Image: The Verge)

Jacquelyn Ottman’s book, If Trash Could Talk, inspires a new consumption culture in NYC.

Wish you could get more stuff fixed in NYC? Repairing is so important, it deserves to be the 4th R.

But how to find repair shops in New York? A product with a lifetime warranty? Good News: We have more repair options than you think. Read on to learn more, as well as pick up some tips for the other 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reuse

3. Take a second look at secondhand — oftentimes it’s better than new! Find local NYC thrift and vintage shops at DonateNYC. Buy refurbished electronics at the Lower East Side Ecology Center’s E-waste Warehouse in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Find treasures at flea markets located all over NYC.

Recycle

4. Find out if your building is eligible for in-building collection of clothing and textiles, electronics and organics (food scraps, yard waste, food-soiled paper). If not, drop off clothing and organics at local greenmarkets. Drop off electronics at various collection sites around NYC or return them to manufacturers.

Want more? Click the icon below for all 60 tips!

Posting Guidelines – This and other stories published on WeHateToWaste.com are intended to prompt positive conversations about practical solutions for preventing waste. Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors, and WeHateToWaste implies no endorsement of the products or organizations mentioned.

About the Author

A waste watcher since age four, Jacquie Ottman is on a mission to change consumption culture in NYC through the prism of zero waste. A noted consultant and speaker, she volunteers as the founding chair, Residential Recycling and Reuse Committee of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board. Since 1989, she has been showing Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. government how to develop and market products that can meet consumer needs more sustainably. An expert on green marketing and a certified creative problem-solving facilitator, she's the author of 5 award-winning books.
Read more about Jacquie HERE, and check out her other posts.

Repairing and recycling products into circulation allows items and materials to be “Upcycled” so that its lifespan grows and the final product does not end up in landfills when it can be effectively reused. Upcycling is an important part of the “reduce reuse recycle” motto and should be talked about more by product manufacturers and supply chain analysts.

Great article. I believe that repairing products to increase the longevity of a good is not only an effective way of reducing waste, but also a different method of recycling that is advantageous for both parties involved. The individual who is getting their product repaired is able to continue to use their product, while the individual doing the repair job is able to make some money for it. Both parties help each other out, while also doing right by the environment by repairing, essentially recycling a broken product, cutting down on waste levels.

A very informative article, indeed! What really caught my attention was point #5. It provides hyperlinks that lists which appliances should be recycled or not. It is not new that many people have difficulty whether a certain item should be recycled. One idea is to connect point #5 and point #2. Creating a design that shows what items should be recycled and what shouldn’t on an eco-bag. However, there’s also the problem of funding. Perhaps a collaboration with companies can be an idea!

Getting stuff actually repaired is so important, yet it can be so daunting. I’m truly not tech savvy, so whenever I see that an electronic of mine isn’t working properly, I immediately get frustrated beyond belief. Electronics nowadays are so critical to our daily routines, that my desire to simply give up and buy a new one kicks in almost instinctively. The amount of energy and materials used in the production of a brand new computer or phone or whatever is causing me an issue is not worth it! I can provide a local freelance worker with work, as well as save myself a ridiculous amount of money buying a whole new computer.